IN Dept. of Health warns Hoosiers of mumps outbreak

State health officials are reminding Indiana residents to check their vaccination records and to be aware of the symptoms of mumps.

This is amid outbreaks on four Indiana college campuses including Indiana University in Bloomington, Purdue University, Butler University, and IUPUI as well as increased cases throughout central Indiana.

If you are vaccinated against mumps, your risk of infection is low but health officials say it is important to be aware of the signs because even fully vaccinated individuals can contract the disease.

The majority of the mumps cases reported so far in the Indiana outbreaks involve fully vaccinated individuals.

The Indiana State Department of Health says it has been working to identify potential additional cases and to prevent further transmission of the disease.

“College campuses can be breeding grounds for illness because students are in frequent close contact in dorms and at social events. With events like IU’s Little 500 and Purdue’s Grand Prix coming up, it’s important for people to remember that the best protections against mumps are to get vaccinated, follow good hygiene practices and to stay home and seek medical advice if you experience symptoms,” said State Health Commissioner Jerome Adams, M.D., M.P.H.

Mumps is a highly contagious respiratory disease that is spread through indirect or direct contact with an infected person’s nose or throat droplets, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is best known for the puffy cheeks and swollen jaw that it causes.

For more information about mumps, visit the CDC’s mumps website.

Health officials ask that anyone who is experiencing symptoms of mumps contact a health care provider.

The Indiana State Department of Health has set up a hotline for the public to call with questions about the outbreaks at 877-826-0011.

Mumps case numbers are also updated each Friday on the ISDH’s mumps web page.